A very lucky caterpillar

I saw him from the car when I pulled in yesterday.  A lone Woolly Bear gallantly making his way across Ed's parking space.  I avoided squashing him under my wheel, pulled Audrey out of the car and said "Look what I found!"  She squatted over him giggling and cupping her hands around the little caterpillar like she wanted to pick him up but was afraid to touch him.  She looked up at me and said, very clearly "In our house?!"

So I grabbed an empty bowl from the car and let the little guy climb up onto it.  After filling a jar with lettuce and bread and a couple of sticks I rather unceremoniously dumped him in.  Audrey has been watching him in that jar off and on ever since.  I plan to release him this Sunday afternoon, but for right now he is a centerpiece on the kitchen table and very popular.

As I watched the snow start this morning out the kitchen window, I looked down at the little caterpillar in the jar and said to him "Now aren't you glad we brought you inside?"